Theresa May plans on staying in office as long as it takes to deliver Brexit (Image: GETTY)
Instead she will make it clear she plans on staying as long as it takes to deliver Brexit, senior Tory sources have revealed. Amid angry clashes at an emergency EU summit in Brussels last night, the Prime Minister was set to agree a delay of up to a year before the UK's departure. The move is certain to intensify Tory demands for the Prime Minister to set a date for her departure from Downing Street. But a Tory source said the Prime Minister was determined to remain in her post until "phase one of the negotiations" - exit from the EU - is concluded. Mrs May has previously told MPs that "as prime minister" she could not countenance the UK remaining in the EU beyond June 30 and taking part in European Parliamentary elections. Tory MPs interpreted the remark as an indication she would not stay in office beyond that date.
But last night's move towards a delay of up to a year signals that she could remain in office long beyond that deadline.
Sources at the summit said French President Emmanuel Macron was taking a "very tough" stance against granting the UK so lengthy extension, however. He was reported to be arguing that Britain should leave the EU as soon as possible to prevent the continuing Brexit row destabilising the bloc.
One official from the President's diplomatic entourage said: "We do not want to import Britain's political crisis into the EU."
Mrs May is expected to enrage her Brexiteer Tory critics further by announcing today that she will step up her cross-party talks with Labour to try to thrash out a new exit strategy.
Macron argued that the Britain should leave the EU as soon as possible to prevent destabilisation (Image: GETTY)
Downing Street officials expect talks between ministers and Labour frontbenchers, which are focused on a watered-down Brexit including a continuing customs union with the bloc, to resume tomorrow.
The source said Mrs May recognised the "urgency" of delivering Brexit and was determined to build a parliamentary alliance for her Withdrawal Agreement that could ensure the country leaves the EU by June 30.
But crucially the source indicated she could stay in office much longer, adding: "She understands that the Conservative Party feels the sense that a new leadership is required for the second phase of negotiations [after Brexit has taken place].
"That was the commitment she gave to her party colleagues and it's one she stands by." Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith yesterday insisted Mrs May must not be allowed to "drift on" in office after accepting a lengthy Brexit delay.
Former Tory Leader Iain Duncan Smith said Mrs May shouldn't be allowed to 'drift on' in office (Image: GETTY)
He warned
